The 21 Best Dancehall And Reggae Albums Of 2021 

2021 was another great year for diversity across dancehall/reggae, from the much-hyped to the much-delayed as well as pandemic fueled projects. Artists continued to push boundaries with the scale and ambition of their albums rather than cling to standard sounds. Acts like Demarco, Sizzla and SOJA added new depths to their delivery, while Spice and Etana provided much needed female voices, ultimately earning Grammy nods for their efforts.

The stage has already been set for a momentous 2022, when Bounty Killer, Shenseea, recent Republic Records signee Jada Kingdom and reggae powerhouse Chronixx are expected to release new music.

Judging by the 2021 precedent, however, with artists showing consideration for their legacies this early in the decade, sonically innovative times lie ahead. And in spite of the trying times, the defining quality of these releases has been celebration, a reliable component of the genre providing comfort to fans far and wide, and greatly in need.

21. Rebelution – In The Moment 

The Cali reggae giants’ seventh album, In The Moment , features fifteen new tracks including 2020 Vision and Satisfied, and guest appearances by Busy Signal, Kabaka Pyramid and Keznamdi. Recorded remotely during the pandemic, In The Moment comes courtesy of NY-based reggae outlet Easy Star Records, and finds Rebelution fixated on time, while looking towards the future with dub drenched hope.

20. SOJA – Beauty In The Silence 

3x Grammy Nominated eight-man band SOJA dropped their first album in four years, Beauty In The Silence, to much fanfare. The global reggae stars’ thirteen track project was released September 24 via ATO Records and continues their inventive take on roots riddims, with a long list of international hitmakers: everyone from J Boog to Collie Buddz to Rebelution and more.

19. Walshy Fire – Riddimentary Selection

 

Jamaican tastemaker, producer and Major Lazer MC Walshy Fire selected fourteen tracks from VP Records’ vault for this eclectic sampler titled Riddimentary Selection. Artists include Beres Hammond, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer among others, covering the ‘rudimentary riddims’ and hitmakers of the Golden Era. The Riddimentary Selection release was also accompanied by a 45-minute deejay mix from Walshy Fire.

18. Jo Mersa Marley – Eternal 

Six years after his first EP, Jo Mersa Marley released Eternal , his seven track sophomore project, featuring singles like Made It (feat. Kabaka Pyramid) and appearances from Melli and Busy Signal. He later added a visual component, the Eternal Visual Mixtape, in collaboration with Bashment, Disco Neil and Silent Addy, featuring select EP cuts plus exclusive freestyles and dub plates.

17. Sizzla – On A High

Known for his conscious decades-long catalog, the Grammy-nominated artist eschewed the electronic sounds of his last suite, I’m Yours, for a compelling roots-reggae return. On A High, released via Kalonji Music Productions, saw Sizzla showcasing his full range of abilities across twelve tracks, with an overarching theme of enlightenment whether through praise, (Thank You Jah), cannabis (Puff) or otherwise.

16.  U-Roy – Solid Gold

 

The album consists of a dozen new recordings of Daddy U-Roy classics (Small Axe, Soul Rebel, Wake The Town) and proved to be a fitting victory lap for the late veteran toaster. An all-star cast (Ziggy Marley, Sly & Robbie, Big Youth, Tarrus Riley, Rygin King, Jesse Royal, Richie Spice) helped to make U-Roy’s posthumous final release an unmatched musical memorial.

15. N.J. & Usain Bolt – Country Yutes 

Arriving to mixed reactions, Bolt’s debut album bore his signature brand of excellence and hit #1 on the iTunes Reggae chart. The album comes on the heels of the sprint King’s previous projects: the Olympe Rose, Immortal and Clockwork riddims. The album, a collaboration with Bolt’s manager and best friend, Nugent ‘N.J.’ Walker, includes their YouTube smash, It’s a Party.

14. Skillibeng – Crocodile Teeth

 

The mounting criticism of Skillibeng’s output hit a boiling point in 2021. Despite the album’s glitzy guest list and Skilli’s previous Nicki Minaj assist, the 12-track set Crocodile Teeth didn’t contain any Brik Pon Brik-sized hits, but stood out for his intoxicating SFX, the swirling synths, stomping bass and frenetic echoes that have become his trademark.

13. Bugle – Toxicity 

Released through An9ted Entertainment and Evidence Music, Toxicity, Bugle’s 4th studio album, had clear pandemic origins. The sixteen tracks tackle themes of upheaval, social issues, acceptance and love through Bugle’s brand of placid wisdom. Standouts include Time Is Of Essence feat. Julian Marley and Bounty Killer (which landed on major reggae playlists upon release) Consequences, and Experience (feat. Nation Boss).

12. Charly Black – Rio Bueno 

Nearly fifteen years after touching down in dancehall, Trelawny native, Charly Black released his debut album Rio Bueno in 2021. Named in honor of Blacks’ hometown, the eleven-track set was released on Universal Records with production by Birchill Music, TJ Records, and more. It features the familiar track You’re Perfect, released in 2017, and new banger, Gyal Extra Sexy.

11. Jahvillani – Dirt to Bentley

 

Jahvillani emerged with as many flex anthems as affirmations on his charged up, contemplative debut Dirt to Bentley . Co-produced by Jahvillani himself, the album’s 43 minutes spans the lessons learned during his dirt-poor origins through to the perks of being in the limelight. Cameos from Kranium, Prince Swanny and Skillibeng helped diversify the thirteen piercing tracks detailing the 26-year-old’s life.

10. Vybz Kartel – Born Fi Dis 

Released on Jamaica’s Independence Day and topping the charts immediately, Kartel’s latest album Born Fi Dis reiterated his undeniable prowess and staying power. The record featured assists from the entire Gaza Nation – including joint tracks with sons Likkle Vybz and Likkle Addi, (No Cap, Air Force 1) and cousin Sikka Rymes (Money Over Love).

9. Demarco – Melody 

Demarco’s debut album Melody is a smörgåsbord of sonic influences pushing dancehall beyond genre boundaries. Though it isn’t billed as a crossover album, the sixteen tracks skillfully sweep through new terrain. A versatile all-rounder with over fifteen years’ tenure, Demarco produced nearly all of Melody’s tracks, enlisting major talent like Sean Paul and Stephen Marley to tap into mainstream consciousness.

8. Konshens – Red Reign

 

Don’t let the iced-out chain or cold stare on Red Reign ‘s cover fool you: Konshens dropped one of 2021’s hottest albums. Released on Ineffable Records, Konshens is sonically and topically superb throughout, swerving between vocal styles and genres with impressive results. The eighteen-track set includes familiar bangers (Pay For It), bright stars (Davido) and bonafide proof of dancehall’s fluidity.

7. Jesse Royal – Royal

 

Jesse Royal’s self-titled second album Royal outdid its Easy Star Records predecessor and has since earned the singer his first Grammy nomination. Drawing on everything from faith to fatherhood, Jesse delivered rich, conscious messages on tracks like Lion Order (feat Protoje) and Rich Forever (feat Vybz Kartel), mixing in elements from a multitude of genres and featuring producers like Runkus and iotosh.

6. Etana – Pamoja

 

Following her self-produced album Gemini, Etana released Pamoja (“together” in Swahili) — a sixteen-track, collab-heavy excursion to the motherland. The mostly African all-star cast includes Stonebwoy (Ghana), Nandy (Tanzania), Naboi and Wyre (Kenya) and Wezi (Zambia). The Grammy-nominated suite also features fellow Jamaican hitmakers Vybz Kartel on Baby O and Damian Jr. Gong Marley on Turn Up Di Sound. 

5. Gramps Morgan – Positive Vibration

 

Gramps Morgan’s third solo album Positive Vibration, is a beautiful reminder of “Jamaica’s rich culture”, fusing the sounds of Ska and Mento the original Jamaican genre long considered a relic of the past, to make beautiful Reggae hybrids.  Recorded between Kingston, Nashville and Toronto, the 15-track album’s sounds are unique due to Gramps use of the Jamaican banjo on the Mento tracks and Nashville guitars on others.    His father Denroy Morgan appears on the album on a track Called Secret to Life as well as Shaggy who appears on Float Ya Boat.

4. Sean Paul – Live N Livin

 

With ‘collaboration over confrontation” as his charge, Grammy-winning deejay Sean Paul churned out a whopping fifteen joint tracks on his seventh studio album, Live N’ Livin . Featuring brand new hits (Boom feat. Busy Signal, Everest feat. Skillibeng and Masicka) as well as updated versions (I’m Sanctify feat. Mavado and Assassin) the album is a radio-friendly, Grammy-worthy dancehall showcase.

3. Alkaline – Top Prize

 

Alkaline’s sophomore album Top Prize arrived just in time for summer with zero collaborations or skippables. Released via Autobamb Records and featuring producers like Ajus Di Vybz and SartOut Productions, the Champion Boy‘s album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Reggae charts and stole the show across DSPs, treating fans to old faves like Ocean Wave, while new bangers like Hostage and Medicine delivered pure vibes.

2. Spice – 10

 

They say good things come to those who wait and Queen of Dancehall Spice got many reasons to smile upon the release of her triumphant debut album, 10 . Spice’s first and only LP for VP Records is now nominated for a Grammy, and the album’s hypnotic lead single Go Down Deh landed on Barack Obama’s Favourite Songs of 2021 Playlist.

1. Masicka – 438

 

If 438 is any indication, dancehall’s future is in Gifted hands. Masicka dropped the most anticipated album of the year to wide acclaim, a masterpiece most agree was worth the wait. Among the well-curated, compelling tracks are the soldier anthems Pain and Suicide Note, while his Tyler/Puffy saga got a thrilling update on the 10-minute track, Story.  The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart earlier this month, and held on at No. 4 the following week.